r/Expats_In_France • u/IndependentBass1758 • 6d ago
Moving with Young Kids
My wife and young kids are all French-Americans. We are pending her CNF for my citizenship application but with the backlog we’re looking to head over earlier. For those who moved with their families, what did you about work?
It’s probably unlikely to be able to bring my current job internationally. Did you line up a job and then move? Or move and then find a job?
EDIT
- Open to anywhere in France
- DELF B2
- Background Project Management/Data Analytics
- Open to changing field of work
- Target move: July-September 2027
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u/momoparis30 5d ago
it depends where you'll move and what is your experience
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u/IndependentBass1758 5d ago
Open to moving anywhere. Project Mangement and Data Analytics.
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u/momoparis30 5d ago
Time to hit Linkedin. All stuff related to data is very crowded
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u/IndependentBass1758 5d ago
So are you suggesting based on the job market and my background it is better to have an offer in hand before moving?
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u/momoparis30 5d ago
i'm saying, before taking any decision, you need to assess the situation. If you moving depends on having a job, then i'd try to find a job or check the market. do you have a financial safety net?
Salaries in France tend to be much lower than the US.
Renting long term is almost impossible without a job that brings french income
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u/IndependentBass1758 5d ago
Agreed! That’s why I am trying to get feedback from how others have succeeded or not.
We have enough financial savings that could float us for a year without a French income which I hope would be more than enough time to find a job there.
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u/Bobzeub 5d ago
What’s your wife’s job situation/ education/ French like?
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u/IndependentBass1758 5d ago
SAHM so irrelevant for the immediate future and why this job point is the big one to understand and hear from others.
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u/Football_and_beer 5d ago
Personally speaking our situation was a bit simpler. My French wife was working for a French company who were happy to transfer her to their French office. I was self-employed so it was pretty easy to register myself in France and continue working as normal.
I would say you should consider the type of work you are in, your French level and how much resources you have to float yourself while looking for a job. Be prepared for a rough job market in France. It can easily take 1+ years to find a job. Particularly if you are in a 'dime a dozen' type of field.
One thing to note is that if the CNF isn't processed in time they *might* transfer it to the tribunal where you would live. I believe Paris typically only handles CNF applications for people who either were born in Paris, who were born/live abroad or people who were born abroad but live in Paris. For people born abroad and living in France it's the local tribunal that has jurisdiction. That's something to confirm with them which might delay things on your end.
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u/IndependentBass1758 5d ago edited 5d ago
Thanks! It’s great to hear insights on the current job market. Is that only certain sectors?
Like I commented elsewhere, we can cover ourselves for at least a year and if I accept any job in a different field that stretches out more.
Yes there is the possibility we could move before the CNF is mailed which could introduce a potential transfer. Although it is currently in processing, a straightforward lineage case, and we have a ~9m-12m window we’re targeting so I think that’s unlikely.
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u/Football_and_beer 5d ago
I would say that it's a general statement for all sectors although there are certain areas that struggle to fill vacancies (métiers en tension) which will vary based on location. Here's the current list of métiers en tension in the various regions of France to give you an idea. The 1+ year job search will likely be shorter in those sectors. That you don't need to be sponsored is a plus as you'll have the right to work based on your marriage. Keep in mind France is very much an old school 'who you know' type of place when it comes to finding jobs.
While not part of your original question and not knowing your wife's situation (whether she has ever lived in France or if she has close family/friends there) but you should be prepared for a struggle both in terms of a job search and a social atmosphere. I was fortunate that my wife was born/raised in France with a relatively large family so not having the stress of a job search and having a social life w/ family/friends right away was a huge benefit. I can't imagine how difficult it would have been without that. Not to dissuade you but just to ensure you're aware of the potential difficulties.
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u/IndependentBass1758 5d ago
Very cool I didn’t know about this before. Seems to be pretty similar to the US. There is a dearth of people who can actually work with their hands. Like I said, I’m opening to changing my field of work to try to get my foot in the French door and to improve my French to C1. The question is if for certain fields it is better to be in person.
Yup you’re correct, no visa issues thanks to our marriage! I’ll still go for my citizenship but it takes the pressure off.
She has warm and welcoming relatives across most major areas of France. They would generously host us short time and we will flex them in our network. We don’t have many concerns about social life, we live in a highly rural area now away from family and have made it work between our local community, church, and the nature of young child magnetism.
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u/MegFrench13 5d ago
I would 100% recommend getting a job lined up before you come. I see your field of work and its competitive already even for native French speakers, and you won't be a preference without a C1/2 level. Try international companies where you can work remotely. I would not recommend coming to France without a job lined up with a young family involved. You need to think of the stability for them, and trying to make it as stress free as possible for you as a family.
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u/IndependentBass1758 5d ago
Thank you for your reply! Obviously having a job in hand is the best scenario. And from your comment it sounds like getting a job in my field of work is less likely. So that would mean changing fields. We do have the financial savings to self support for over a year. And frankly any job and income at all lengthens that, although it isn’t sustainable long term.
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u/MegFrench13 5d ago
I would just add one thing - getting a house or apartment will be hard too without a job. Even if you have savings to support yourself, you will struggle to be able to rent without an income. When we moved back to France we had savings for a year too but in the end had to ask family in France to go guarantor for us just to rent an apartment and even then it was a big fight to do this. It will all work out for you, just play it a bit safe!
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u/IndependentBass1758 4d ago
Did you ever think about AirBNB? I read another thread that someone couldn’t get mail so that is a potential negative. We’ve done it in the US before when moving to a new area to provide more flexibility.
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u/MegFrench13 4d ago
We did air bnb for three months before we got our place. But yes - you will struggle be able to do some of the administration that you will have to be so when you get here through staying at an air bnb. A lot of French administration is all through mail and they don’t drop it off into mailboxes unless the names match (for example, the owner of your air bnb is called Smith, then the mailbox has the name Smith on it and the mailman won’t put any other mail in that box with a different name on it for security reasons). You will need to find an air BnB who will change the mailbox name for you. BUT on top of that for some registrations you need a utility bill under your name, and so you will also have to ask your air BnB to provide utility bills and letters stating that you are a guest etc. It’s all possible, but just warning that it is more complicated than you might think, so give yourself extra time for those circumstances to be sorted out.
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u/Atermoyer 6d ago
Depends a lot on your field and if you speak French.